I decided to try and have an IPA recipe all my own recently and so this summer I thought I would spend it perfecting one. I wanted to post the hops combos I have used so far maybe someone will have some pointers or ideas and maybe this info can help someone else trying to get a better grasp on hop flavors.
My first brew was an interesting one I used Apollo, Centennial, Citra.
The schedule was as follows
45min (1oz Cent)
30min (1oz Citra)
Whirlpool after boil (1oz Apollo,1oz Citra and 1oz Cent)
Fermentation hop a couple days in (2oz Citra,1oz Cent and 1oz Apollo)
Flavors on this were interesting Apollo had an interesting onion garlic smell to it and that comes through a little in the final beer it mellowed with time but its still there. Interesting that several friends really like this beer but feel that there is just that slight off flavor in it. I would give this beer a 75 out of 100 a lot of good things to work off of on this.
My second IPA attempt of the summer was a 1hop Azacca try. The schedule as follows.
60 min (2.5oz)
Whirlpool post boil (4.5oz)
Fermentation hop (3oz starting 2 days in 1oz per day until 3oz added.)
This beer considering how many hops I put in there was not bitter at all. I had read that Azacca hops are very subtle and I think that really hits it on the head. They are floral and tropical but very faint and not overpowering. It was a 7.2% beer and it came out very smooth. Guy friends are not very fond of this beer saying its not like a real IPA all women family members and friends LOVE this beer. Even though technically its an 64 IBU beer it may just be better labeled as a pale ale. I like the hops and flavor of them but they are just not strong.
My next recipe is going to be a little remake of the first one but after research I am moving the Apollo hop from late addition to only a 60min bittering hop after reading it provides a smooth bittering. I am going to take out the Centennial and instead use Galaxy Citra and Azacca as my late additions and fermentation hopping.
If anyone has any advice or ideas pointers whatever let me know please and sorry for the dragged out post.
My first brew was an interesting one I used Apollo, Centennial, Citra.
The schedule was as follows
45min (1oz Cent)
30min (1oz Citra)
Whirlpool after boil (1oz Apollo,1oz Citra and 1oz Cent)
Fermentation hop a couple days in (2oz Citra,1oz Cent and 1oz Apollo)
Flavors on this were interesting Apollo had an interesting onion garlic smell to it and that comes through a little in the final beer it mellowed with time but its still there. Interesting that several friends really like this beer but feel that there is just that slight off flavor in it. I would give this beer a 75 out of 100 a lot of good things to work off of on this.
My second IPA attempt of the summer was a 1hop Azacca try. The schedule as follows.
60 min (2.5oz)
Whirlpool post boil (4.5oz)
Fermentation hop (3oz starting 2 days in 1oz per day until 3oz added.)
This beer considering how many hops I put in there was not bitter at all. I had read that Azacca hops are very subtle and I think that really hits it on the head. They are floral and tropical but very faint and not overpowering. It was a 7.2% beer and it came out very smooth. Guy friends are not very fond of this beer saying its not like a real IPA all women family members and friends LOVE this beer. Even though technically its an 64 IBU beer it may just be better labeled as a pale ale. I like the hops and flavor of them but they are just not strong.
My next recipe is going to be a little remake of the first one but after research I am moving the Apollo hop from late addition to only a 60min bittering hop after reading it provides a smooth bittering. I am going to take out the Centennial and instead use Galaxy Citra and Azacca as my late additions and fermentation hopping.
If anyone has any advice or ideas pointers whatever let me know please and sorry for the dragged out post.
)
On brew day the whole house smelled like a pot shop. They were that dank. I dry hopped half the batch with Galaxy and the other with Citra (2 oz for 5 gallons). The Galaxy half came at very bitter and grassy but not unpleasantly so. The Citra half is much soother and doesn't have the grassy character.
